Robert Fletcher, the former treasurer of the Fox Cities Officials Association (FCOA), has pleaded guilty to felony theft after admitting to misusing the organization’s funds for gambling and personal expenses. Fletcher, who resides in Appleton, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $4,781 in restitution.
Fletcher’s case began when discrepancies in FCOA’s bookkeeping led the organization, which provides officials for youth and high school sports, to report the issue to the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators found that Fletcher had withdrawn nearly $20,000 from the association’s accounts between 2020 and 2023, using the funds for gambling and other personal expenditures. Fletcher also admitted to depositing an additional $2,000 into his personal bank account.
Fletcher repaid approximately $17,000 to the FCOA, but still owed more than $4,700 at the time of his arrest. As part of a deferred judgment agreement, Fletcher pleaded guilty to felony theft, with the opportunity to have the charge reduced if he complies with certain conditions over the next 18 months. Additionally, he is barred from contacting the victims or participating in Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) events during this period.
Fletcher’s guilty plea also included a conviction for bail jumping, and FCOA President Jamie Thern expressed relief at the resolution of the case, stating that the organization is now “moving on” from the incident.